After discussing with my cooperating teacher at Westerly High School, Ms. Macnamara, we have decided that I will teach 9th grade physical science. We have not decided which level I will be teaching yet, but the options are “regular level” or College Prep and the “lower level” class or Team class. These classes are learning the same information, but at different depths and speeds. While the College Prep, or CP class may be able to perform more activities and more in depth assignments, the Team class may need more detailed instruction and structure to the lessons and activities.
The unit plan that I am beginning will be on the earth’s interior. There are 6 chapters in the textbook on this unit, all of which correspond to GSE for 9th grade physical science. The six chapters all have main themes, which are simplified into the following list:
density
atoms and elements
precipitation reactions
heat in reactions
energy and waves
convection cells in the earth
These six chapters are easily broken into one or two lessons each. I am looking forward to using the technology available, including computers and the SmartBoard, in order to prepare these lessons. There are a variety of labs that I can think of to create in order to explain topics, although I believe the most effective would be in visualizing convection cells. This lab would also be a great conclusion activity for the chapter.
Portion of GSE that will be addressed:
PS1 (9-11) - 4 Students demonstrate an understanding of the structure of matter by … 4a comparing the three subatomic particles of atoms (protons, electrons, neutrons) and their location within an atom, their relative mass, and their charge.
PS2 (9-11) - 5 Students demonstrate an understanding of energy by… 5a describing or diagramming the changes in energy (transformation) that occur in different systems (eg. chemical = exo and endo thermic reactions, biological = food webs, physical = phase changes). 5b explaining the Law of Conservation of Energy as it relates to the efficiency (loss of heat) of a system. These classes are not all the same level, however, and this GSE for grades 5-8 may also be needed in order to complete the necessary topics in the lower level classes.
PS1 (7-8) - 1 Students demonstrate an understanding of characteristic properties of matter by …
1a measuring mass and volume of both regular and irregular objects and using those values as well as the relationship D=m/v to calculate density
The unit plan that I am beginning will be on the earth’s interior. There are 6 chapters in the textbook on this unit, all of which correspond to GSE for 9th grade physical science. The six chapters all have main themes, which are simplified into the following list:
- density
- atoms and elements
- precipitation reactions
- heat in reactions
- energy and waves
- convection cells in the earth
These six chapters are easily broken into one or two lessons each. I am looking forward to using the technology available, including computers and the SmartBoard, in order to prepare these lessons. There are a variety of labs that I can think of to create in order to explain topics, although I believe the most effective would be in visualizing convection cells. This lab would also be a great conclusion activity for the chapter.Portion of GSE that will be addressed:
PS1 (9-11) - 4
Students demonstrate an understanding of the structure of matter by …
4a comparing the three subatomic particles of atoms (protons, electrons, neutrons) and their location within an atom, their relative mass, and their charge.
PS2 (9-11) - 5
Students demonstrate an understanding of energy by…
5a describing or diagramming the changes in energy (transformation) that occur in different systems (eg. chemical = exo and endo thermic reactions, biological = food webs, physical = phase changes).
5b explaining the Law of Conservation of Energy as it relates to the efficiency (loss of heat) of a system.
These classes are not all the same level, however, and this GSE for grades 5-8 may also be needed in order to complete the necessary topics in the lower level classes.
PS1 (7-8) - 1
Students demonstrate an understanding of characteristic properties of matter by …
1a measuring mass and volume of both regular and irregular objects and using those values as well as the relationship D=m/v to calculate density